RateItAll: The Opinion Network

Awesome arena! This arena is the best in the country. Not only is it the third largest college arena in the country, but it is packed every single game regardless if the cats are playing Duke or Middle-of-Nowhere State University. Anytime you go that place is going to be rockin'!

Seats are easy to find, concession stands are perfectly located, and there are enough bathrooms for all 23,999 people in that place.

Tiny student section and rich stuffy season ticket owners. Very disappointing!

Best college arena, bar none.

One of the largest and loudest arenas in college basketball + dedicated fans = one hell of a college basketball enviroment

2/18/2004:It's one of the finest places to air on nat'l television- the outside is just as beautiful as the inside. I may never understand why Wildcat fans hold it in high regard until I'm accepted to Kentucky. Hope to see it live... Seen it on Nov. 17, 2006- updated comment: You won't believe how amazing and how large this venue is. Obviously, to many fans, they say that it is the second place God goes to. Fine tradition and loud enough for the visitors to lose at. (These cats hardly lose- they just lost close to 50 times since the arena opened.)

This place is worth the trip just to see the banners hanging in the rafters. This place absoulutly gigantic and the energy and fans are second to none. UK is the best college basketball program of all-time and Rupp Arena is the best facility. GO CATS!!

An excellent facility but needs an upgrade with box suites. The crowds at UofK games are some of the smartest in the NCAA only because Adolf Ropp took the time to educate an entire state on the "Art of Basketball". Most years, this is where you will see the finest in the Art. Only John Wooden at UCLA has a better record. Everyone need to reload at some time.

Highly unimpressive stadium and an even more of a laughable program. Congratulations on your defeat to Bud Walton Arena, the best stadium in the nation. Really, did you pathetic rednecks think that Wal-Mart's founder could be so easily defeated? Arkansas wins again.

It is impossible to compare Cameron Indoor Crakerbox and the Dean's milk dome to Rupp Arena. Rupp has an incredible enviornment and its a great facility. Its defanitly fit to be the home of the winningest team in all of college basketball. Rupp Arena will always be top of the chain. GO CATS!!!

Nothing much to say its just awesome.

Good tradition and high energy but it's not Cameron. The best part about Rupp is Ashley Judd

I just think it's funny that so many of you UK fans feel the need to crack on Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium...it's like you guys just can't ever forgive us for the Laettner game. You know, we're NOT your rivals. Don't flatter yourselves. Kentucky never even comes to mind when a Duke fan is considering our current rivals. UNC, Maryland, yes. UK..not so much. Anyway, the Rupp Arena is okay, and the fans should get credit for making it come alive.

Another great SEC arena the crowds there rock especialy the student section. Second only to Bud Walton Arena of course. GO HOGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No college arena tour would be complete without a trip to Lexington and Rupp arena. This place scores points merely for being the home of the Kentucky Wildcats, traditionally one of America's most prominent college basketball teams (and the--believe it or not--even MORE successful multiple national championship wielding UK Cheerleaders). Having said that, however, I must admit to being rather disappointed with the arena itself as a physical space. Architecturally it's nothing more than a large squarish structure -- complete with visible corrugated metal in the roof! The entire upper deck is--of all horrors--BLEACHER seats (and I mean honest to goodness, long strips of planking-with-no-back bleacher seats)! Located in downtown Lexington, it's also not an on-campus arena. Considering these factors it's easy to see why UK lays claim to annually drawing the most b-ball fans. The ease of driving into a central urban locale -- not to mention the fact that the vast majority of the 23-odd thousand are crammed into that upper deck -- certainly diminishes the impressiveness of that stat (when comparing such to typical, large on-campus arenas in quintessential, smaller college towns). Were Rupp a conventional arena with theater-style seating (complete with back and arms) throughout, it would hold significantly less -- in fact that capacity would be reduced to WELL under 20K. IMO, a program like UK (and most especially its avid fan-base) simply deserves better. As much as I hate giving Rupp a rating of 2 out of 5, it's simply unavoidable in a world that includes such a 5-star palace as the Smith Center in Chapel Hill (in all honesty there's simply no favorable comparison to be made between the two, physically speaking -- the DeanDome being vastly superior in every conceivable way). Nonetheless, the atmosphere is unsurpassed! And Rupp Arena--along with all of the great state (or commonwealth, as it were) of Kentucky--is an essential stop for any true fan of the sport.

Rupp Arena is a wonderful place for basketball, concerts, ice-skating, and arena football. You just name it and Rupp can handle it!

Its THE hardest place to play in NCAA Div. 1, thats for sure...and its a lot nicer than that outhouse they call Cameron Indoor Arena. Take that, Duke fans....

Are you kidding me? Went to a game in 1992 there in Lex for a game against Shaq's LSU and it was UN-BELIEVABLE. Will never ever forget it! That place will deafen you.

The best college arena supporting the best college basketball team of all supporting the best coach in the nation. Gotta love those Kentucky Wildcats!!!

KICK BUTT HIGH ENGERY ARENA THE GREATEST FANS JUST INTENCE AND ALWAYS PACKED!!!

railroadcat Rupp has been updated with a new floor, seating, video boards and sound system plus more restrooms. Truly a most unique facility and storied history. Currently to small for the tremendous UK fans but a great place to watch the #1 basketball program in the nation!

No other place like it, the best facililty for the greatest basketball program of all time.

The # 1 Arena for the # 1 College Basketball Program of All Time !!! Great facility, great atmosphere, great history, and great, knowledgable basketball fans!!! They had it before you, they had it during you, and they will have it after you, quote from Al McGuire about UK basketball!!!!! # 1 !!

Great teams, Great Venue! Been to MANY, but it is the best by far.

One person said: IT'S NOT CAMERON INDOOR AND THAT'S ALL I NEED TO SAY! I can't agree more...it is so much better than that crackerbox of an arena. There are many purposes to college sports and having the fans be a part of the game is important. Duke students do get into the games and I give them credit for that. But past the few thousand folks that can cram into the tiny stadium, the venue is terrible for fans of Duke. Rupp allows more of the True Blue fans of the UK prorgam enjoy the atmosphere, the team and the experience known as UK Basketball. For that reason alone, Rupp makes it to the top of my list.

Rupp, is a great place for Basketball. The fans are great and love their wildcats.

awesome baby!

Go to a game and you'll know why it's 5 stars

There is no better place on earth for college basketball. Tabacco Road is a joke and the Hoosier state is the worst of them all. Nothing even comes close to basketball in Rupp.

The pageantry, history, and the love affair between Cats and Cat fans amke this the most special College Basketball arena in the land!

downstairs great; upstairs uncomfortable. Improved restrooms and better food lately. Fans are knowledgeable and passionate.

There is a reason it's so big. No other College Arena has better basketball or better fans. No other College arena has a higher attendance average, year in - year out.

It seats a lot of people but watch your step going up the steep stairs to sit on a bench seat. It feels like you are in the rafters of a barn.

There's no doubt about it, Kentucky is the greatest college basketball team of all time, so it's only appropriate that they have the best arena in college basketball. Rupp Arena isnt just a place where Kentucky plays basketball, it's practically a church where 24,000 die hard big blue fans (the best fans in the world) go to worship their beloved team. No other school can ever contend with what Kentucky has done in college basketball. Oh yeah, and being the big blue fan that I am, I'd like to address the Duke fans out there who seem to think your Blue Devils are better than the Wildcats. Just look at the history books, Duke has 3 national titles, Kentucky has 7, oh and not to mention the 42 SEC Championships, 26 SEC Tournament Championships, 13 Final 4's and the most wins in the history of college basketball. I'm not in any way trying to brag (well actually, yeah I am), but it's not considered bragging when it's the truth

IT'S NOT CAMERON INDOOR AND THAT'S ALL I NEED TO SAY!

It would get a 5 one or two games a year but the rest of the time its quiet - unless it's a big game, watching basketball at Rupp is a big bore

I'm a big hoops fans and have been to many arenas, but nothing compares to the overall experience at Rupp. Can be quiet at times, because the UK fans are pretty spoiled, but in a big game, the 24,000 Wildcat faithful become deafening. I've also had the chance to play there, and the place can be very intimidating.

Rupp Arena?

UK sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Those bunch a babies will not even accept a challenge from the almighty Cincinnati Bearcats! Go home caring to your mommies you big babies!

The Pride and Joy of the university of Kentucky requires an awesome home. Rupp is the most awesome place i have ever watched a college basketball game

this place is a waste of building materials

just big, like uk basketball egos

I arrived at beautiful Bluegrass airport and was amazed at the beauty of Lexington and the mansions on nearly every corner what a beautiful city, Kentucky's campus is absolutely gorgeous and dowtown is very romantic and attractive. The arena is the icing on the cake.....24,000 blue clad cat fans, a shopping mall inside the arena(not that is any girl's dream who likes to shop and basketball) and tradition/history. It was truly the nicest experience I have ever had and I have been to all the SEC schools and the majority of the Big XII schools as well as some in the ACC and Big Ten none compare to RUPP AENA!!!!!

24,000 screaming fans that never let up, 7 national championships, over 40 conference championships, beautiful location in Lexington, a three level shopping mall/food court inside the arena, a four star hotel connected to the arena, it simply doesn't get better than this.....not to mention the most beautiful women I have ever seen as well as the 12 time national champion cheerleading squad.....Can't say enough about Kentucky basketball even though I am a Tennessee fan

WOW!!!!! Nothing like it Florida was ranked #1 last year and played at Rupp and I traveled up to watch the game. Absolutely amazing 24,000 packed in beatiful downtown Lexington covered in Blue and were so loud my ears hurt, the atmosphere was unlike anything I have ever seen in football or basketball, and the facility is incredible, it has a three level shopping mall and civic center attached along with the UK basketball museum .....I can't say enough about it I though it was always overrated hate to admit but I was wrong this place is AWESOME and take my word visiting teams be prepared to lose

I am Loyal Tarheel fan and hate to admit it but Rupp Arena is incredible, absolutely beautiful massive, AND FILLED WITH RABID ROWDY LOUD FANS, but they are very polite.....awesome

Absolutely Amazing, Deafening crowd, Incredible atmosphere for every game, beautiful downtown Lexington Best I have seen

Look at it on tv. It has size color and maniac fans...

Atmosphere and tradition......awesome....

If I were rating the UK basketball and program and fans ONLY, obviously it would have been a 5-Star rating. UK is perhaps the most tradition rich program in the country with some of the most loyal fans. My only real complaints with Rupp are the structural design--too many seats in the upper deck, all of which are simply bench seats (no chairbacks). Seats are also a bit too far removed from the court. Bring your binoculars if you sit in the upper deck it is very difficult to see well, and those darned bench seats really are uncomfortable. Other than that, it's great in every way. The Arena is located in the middle of Beautiful downtown Lexington which makes it worth the visit alone. No college basketball fan should ever pass up an opportunity to attend a game at Rupp--so much tradition here and some of the most knowledgeable, and polite fans that you will ever encounter. (Don't get me wrong, they do get very loud and rowdy in ther support of their beloved 'C-A-T-S'!) As a fan of a visiting team I have to say that UK fans are a class act, win or lose.

this place SUCKS,bunch of felons play here.

Corrupt Arena or Rape Arena is what I know it as.